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Men who seek infertility treatments without being properly diagnosed by a doctor risk having more serious conditions overlooked, Australian experts have warned.

An editorial in the Medical Journal of Australia says that the success of Intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) - injection of a single sperm directly into an egg - in helping men with low sperm counts to have children may have unintended side-effects.

"As a group, infertile men are at increased risk of certain disorders and unless they are medically assessed, these may be overlooked," said Associate Professor Robert McLachlan from the Australian Centre for Excellence in Male Reproductive Health at Melbourne's Monash University.

"Examination for testicular cancer is mandatory. It is also important to detect and treat androgen deficiency, which is more common in infertile men, to improve quality of life and prevent long-term sequelae such as osteoporosis."

Associate Professor McLachlan who co-authored the editorial with colleague Professor David de Krestser, said the portrayal of ICSI by the media as a 'cure' for male infertility may result in the failure of men to have their infertility fully assessed and encourage the view that further research on male infertility can be scaled back.

"We strongly disagree," he said. "The ICSI revolution must not distract practitioners from the appropriate clinical management of male infertility or obscure the need for continued basic and clinical research that may ultimately provide specific treatment or prevention strategies."

Associate Professor McLachlan said that in Australia, male infertility affects one man in 20, contributes to half of all infertility problems in relationships, and is the underlying reason for 40% of infertile couples using assisted-reproductive technologies (ARTs).

"For all men presenting with an infertility problem, a medical history should be taken, and an examination and appropriate investigations carried out," he said. "Accurate diagnosis may prompt alternative, less expensive treatments that do not expose the female partner to the risks associated with ART."

"ICSI is a 'bypass' procedure, not a treatment - it can help some, but by no means all, infertile men," said Associate Professor McLachlan. "A significant minority of men don't have any sperm at all."